The Natural Step Framework (TNS) is a science-based, systems framework to help organizations, individuals and communities take meaningful steps toward sustainability.
World Café is a facilitation method that allows small groups of people to have conversations, sketch, and brainstorm around in an informal setting, around cafe tables. Groups typically have several rounds, switching tables and starting new topics.
Participatory Budgeting refers to involvement of the community in public budget planning and spending decisions. The degree of participation ranges from giving citizens a voice during budget development to actual approval power.
Priority Spend is web-based software to help groups of people prioritize decisions about proposed actions, spending, or other choices. It allows participants to assign weighted values to multiple choices, for more nuanced decisions than simple polls.
UMAP is a community mapping tool used to engage youth in social action and neighborhood change by allowing them to influence community needs, including infrastructure, social services, safety, affordable housing and access to recreation.
Community Theater projects expand upon the concept of local theater to produce shows that are based upon or document the character of the community itself or explore issues the community is dealing with.
Wikis are now a staple tool for e-participation. These online platforms allow people to create a page of text and invite others to edit, contribute, read, and comment. Wikis are used for articles, document sharing, collaborative editing and more.
Digital storytelling tools make traditional stories available in digital form, or using computer-based tools - whether photographs, video, audio recordings, online postings, or mixed media.
Photo simulations depict potential planning and design changes through realistic digitally-manipulated photographs. They allow people to compare before-and-after scenarios and understand how planning decisions will appear in the landscape.
Wealth Creation in Rural Communities is an approach to create multiple forms of wealth that are owned and controlled locally. This systems approach links together assets, producers, and consumers in ways that encourage economic development in rural a